Crash rehearsal studios up for sale

Calls are growing for Liverpool City Council to take action following the collapse of property companies such as developer Signature Living Hotel and a string of 'problem' schemes but it will not be easy, warned professionals in the city.

The body responsible for the city’s innovation district has launched a strategic vision to guide its direction and expansion over the next five years.

The city council has asked Government to help fund developments, including a new cruise terminal and the next phase of the £1bn science and technology hub Paddington Village, as part of a £1.4bn Covid-19 economic recovery plan. 

After months of uncertainty, Boris Johnson yesterday confirmed an end to the sector’s enforced “hibernation” by announcing bars, restaurants and hotels can reopen from 4 July, but hospitality professionals are wary despite this positive step. 

Legacy Hotels & Resorts plans to invest a “significant” amount of money to repair the grade two-listed hotel in Liverpool, which it plans to reopen by the end of July after the collapse of its previous operator, the hotels arm of developer Signature Living Group. 

The city council has appointed consultancies Arup and Meristem to design a street pedestrianisation scheme promoting outdoor eating, to help restaurants operate despite social distancing measures.

The funds will go towards helping local independent businesses create covered seating areas in a bid to keep them trading and offset the loss of internal space due to the need to social distance. 

Agents dismissed talk of the potential death of offices following the Covid-19 lockdown, reporting an upturn in leasing activity in Liverpool and Manchester over the past two weeks. However, they predicted major changes to occupier demand in the short and long term, which will impact the lettings market in the months ahead.  

The city region has set up an economic recovery taskforce aimed at lifting the local economy after a bruising from the lockdown.